Haddam Fire: The Movie

READER SUBMITTED:

Chet Crocco lies still. The room is dark, smoky and quiet. A few minutes pass before a distant siren is heard, then a muffled rush of activity - orders are barked, electronics beep, tools clang.

A door bursts open revealing four firefighters lined up at the entrance. They split into a pair of two-man teams. The missions are 1. Find Chet and 2. Find the fire. Team one feels their way along a wall, calling out to the victim as team two muscles a charged hose line along the opposite wall.

The search team turns the corner into Chet's room, make contact, hoist and carry him into the hallway and out the open door that has vented a significant amount of smoke, drastically improving visibility.

Outside, Crocco says, "Nice, thanks guys" as he comes to his feet. "Ok, just one minute. I need to check the footage."

The amateur filmmaker recently shot members of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. at a town garage in Tylerville set up to resemble a realistic search-and-rescue operation. Crocco and fellow Haddam-Killingworth High School student John Abbott are co-producing a documentary on the fire company. The film, part of an H-K video class project, will eventually air on cable access channel 18 and be available on YouTube. An air date has not been set.

To give the Tylerville garage as realistic a feel as possible, smoke machines were set up and firefighters donned full gear with Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. Prior to the shoot, the students took several hours of footage at an extrication drill. They plan to conduct interviews and incorporate historical photos into the final cut of the film.

Crocco said they settled on the HVFC because "we wanted to inform, tell a story, and do some good at the same time."

"A lot of others in my class were focusing on business stories, but John and I wanted to do something original but also important to the community," he said. "The volunteers at the fire department protect all of us, so it just made sense. I also hope it helps with recruitment."

That's music to the ears of Lt. John Kuzminski, chair of the fire company's membership committee.

"This is a big help to us, and we hope it gives people a behind-the-scenes look at what we do," he said. "We've been very impressed by how professional Chet and John have been, and we can't wait to see the film."

Crocco said he was inspired by a mock car crash staged in May by New Image Automotive near the auto shop at the high school.

"I experienced the intensity and pressure of the situation, and came out of the experiences with a newfound respect and confidence in the people who protect me, my friends and family, and my community," he said. "I wish to share this sense of pride and respect in what a great fire company we have ... and perhaps encourage new volunteers to join."